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StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
Unit 1/Week 5
Title: “It Takes Talent”
Suggested Time: 5 days (45 minutes per day)
Common Core ELA Standards: RL.5.1, RL.5.2, RL.5.3; RF.5.4; W.5.1, W.5.2, W.5.4, W.5.9; SL.5.1,
SL.5.2; L.5.1, L.5.2
Teacher Instructions
Refer to the Introduction for further details.
Before Teaching
1. Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for
teachers, about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task.
Big Ideas and Key Understandings
Although it isn’t always apparent at first, everyone has a talent for something.
Synopsis
When the student’s teacher announces that the school will be holding a talent show, the students are all very excited, with
the exception of Deon. Deon is certain that he has no talent to be showcased. When the teacher offers him the opportunity
to participate as the show’s emcee, Deon is glad to be able to take part in the talent show without actually having to perform
any talent-related tasks. During the talent show, a series of accidents and mishaps occur to Deon and the other performers
that could potentially destroy the talent show. Through Deon’s quick actions and witty comments, disaster is averted and the
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
talent show is able to conclude successfully. At the end of the story, Deon’s friends and the audience help him realize that he
does indeed have a talent for humor and that without him the talent show would have been a disaster.
2. Read entire main selection text, keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings.
3. Re-read the main selection text while noting the stopping points for the Text Dependent Questions and teaching Vocabulary.
During Teaching
1. Students read the entire main selection text independently.
2. Teacher reads the main selection text aloud with students following along. (Depending on how complex the text is and the
amount of support needed by students, the teacher may choose to reverse the order of steps 1 and 2.)
3. Students and teacher re-read the text while stopping to respond to and discuss the questions and returning to the text. A variety
of methods can be used to structure the reading and discussion (i.e.: whole class discussion, think-pair-share, independent
written response, group work, etc.)
Text Dependent Questions
Text Dependent Questions
What clues does the author give you on page 128 about Deon’s
and Andres’ personalities?
On page 129, Mr. Hebert announces that there is a talent show
coming up soon. How does Deon feel about taking part in the
talent show? Cite evidence on this page that shows how Deon
feels about taking part in the talent show. What is the main
challenge he faces?
Answers
They are both sitting with other people at lunch, so they are
friendly and get along well. The fact that he answers with,
“neon-green jiggly stuff isn’t my idea of dessert” shows that
Deon is clever. The fact that Andre is building a gelatin tower
shows that he is playful and mischievous.
Deon stammers and predicts that he will be sick on the day of
the talent show and forced to stay home in bed. This shows
that because he is nervous and does not believe that he has a
talent, he does not wish to take part in the talent show.
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StoryTown - 2008
What statements does Deon make on page 130 that show why
he does not wish to participate in the talent show?
On page 130, Mr. Herbert tells Deon that he does not believe
that he doesn’t have talent, but there is a way he can
participate in the talent show without performing. What does
Mr. Hebert suggest Deon do to take part in the talent show
without having to perform? What will his responsibilities be if
he accepts this position?
On page 131, Mr. Herbert tells Rob to “restrain” his pig. The
word “restrain” means to hold the pig back and limit his ability
to run around. What events happen on this page that causes
Mr. Herbert to tell Rob that he needs to “restrain” his pig?
Deon successfully handles the mishaps occurring in the story
with ease. What are two comments that Deon makes on page
132 that indicate he has a good sense of humor? Why is it
important to this story for the reader to understand that Deon
has a sense of humor?
Foreshadowing is a technique that authors use to hint about an
event that may happen later in the story. Deon’s last line on
page 132 is, “Is the bottom of your tower supposed to ooze like
that?” What event is this foreshadowing?
On page 133, the author gives several examples of how Deon’s
sense of humor helped the talent show participants by using
humor to help keep the audience entertained when mishaps
occur. What are two examples of how Deon uses his sense of
humor to distract the audience when Andres’ gelatin tower
collapses?
Grade 5
“I am like this milk carton, not one drop of talent.” “Performing
in the talent show would be total humiliation.” These
statements show that he doesn’t feel he has any talent with
which to perform in the show.
Mr. Hebert suggests that Deon volunteer to be the Master of
Ceremonies for the talent show. Deon would be the emcee and
introduce each performer.
As Deon begins to welcome the audience to the talent show,
the red velvet curtain on the stage falls down and covers Deon.
When he runs backstage to ask who lowered the curtain,
Michelle tells him that Grumpy, Rob’s pig, was munching on the
curtains cord and caused it to fall.
Deon comments to the pig “ Let go, Grumpy! I’m this show’s
emcee, not you!” and “As you can see, Grumpy likes to …..hog
the spotlight.” It is important because at the beginning of the
story he doesn’t think he has any talent to perform in the show,
but without his sense of humor, the show would have been a
failure.
Deon’s last line on page 132 is foreshadowing that the gelatin
tower could fall.
Deon shows his sense of humor when Andres’ gelatin tower
collapses when he calls Andres’ gelatin an “amazing, attacking
Galaxy Goo Tower” and tells the audience to “eat it at your own
risk.” He also refers to the gelatin as “attacking gelatin” when
he introduces Michelle and Tara. This helps to keep the
audience laughing and interested even when accidents occur.
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StoryTown - 2008
What actions does Deon take after Michelle slips on the gelatin
and falls down on page 134 that causes Tara and Michelle to be
grateful that he is the emcee for the talent show? Why is this
an important part of the story?
What happens on page 135 that shows how the audience and
participants feel about how Deon performed as the emcee of
the talent show?
At the beginning of the story, we said that Deon’s main
challenge was that he did not feel as if he had any talent to
perform in the talent show. How is his challenge resolved at the
end of the story?
Grade 5
After Michelle slips on the gelatin and falls down, Deon grabs a
mop to clean up the mess and waltzes with the mop to the
music while he is cleaning. This shows why Deon is doing such a
great job as the emcee and it shows the funny way he handles
all of the mishaps taking place during the talent show.
The performers don’t want to take their final bow without
Deon because they feel that their performance would have
been a flop without him and the audience jump to their feet
and cheer when Deon walks out on to the stage.
Through the events that happen during the talent show and the
reaction of the participants and audience to Deon’s
performance as emcee, Deon discovers that he does have
talent—humor. Deon’s sense of humor keeps the show moving
smoothly, which keeps his friends from feeling humiliated.
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Grade 5
Vocabulary
STUDENTS FIGURE OUT THE MEANING
sufficient context clues are provided in
the text
TEACHER PROVIDES DEFINITION
not enough contextual clues provided in
the text
KEY WORDS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING
WORDS WORTH KNOWING
General teaching suggestions are provided in the Introduction
Page 128: genial
Page 129: prognostication
Page 130: emcee
Page 131: restrain
Page 134: mortified; grudgingly
Page 135: flop; fazed
Page 129: stricken
Page 130: multi-talented; master of ceremonies
Page 132: architect; feverishly
Page 133: quivering; exhilarating
Page 134: waltzing
Page 135: curtain call; reigned supreme; Broadway
Page 128: gelatin
Page 129: talent show
Page 131: untangles
Page 132: hog the spotlight; ooze
Page 133: offstage; collapses
Page 135: comedy
Page 129: expectations
Page 130: dramatically; humiliation; relented
Page 132: protest
Page 133: overcome; desperately
Page 134: hesitating
Page 135: spectacular
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StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
Culminating Task

Re-Read, Think, Discuss, Write

Although at the beginning of the story, Deon thought that he did not have any talents, several events happened in the story to
help Deon discover that he did, in fact have a talent, it was just hidden. Using details from the story, discuss at least 3-5 events
that occurred during the story, which led to Deon discovering that he had a talent for humor. Write a multi- paragraph
composition to discuss these. Make sure that you explain how each event leads to his discovery of his talent and why this is
important to understanding the message contained in the story.
Answer:
At the beginning of “It Takes Talent”, Deon is so sure that he does not have any talent that he refuses to participate in
the school’s upcoming talent show. He only agrees to take part in the talent show when his teacher, Mr. Hebert tells him that
he could emcee the talent show and this would allow him to take part in the show without actually having to participate.
When Deon is talking to his teacher and friends about the talent show, we are given the first hints that he actually does
possess a talent for humor. The first thing that happens to show his sense of humor is the fact that he announces that he will
not take part in the talent show by “predicting” that he will be sick on the day of the talent show and then by comparing
himself to an empty milk carton by saying he is like the milk carton because he has “not one drop of talent”.
As soon as Deon takes the stage to announce the talent show will be beginning, the curtain falls on him when Grumpy
the pig pulls the cord holding the curtain up. Deon shows his sense of humor by telling Grumpy that he is the emcee of the
show, not the pig and then he uses humor when he turns to the audience and uses the comment about how Grumpy likes to
“hog the spotlight.” This is a great example of how Deon uses his sense of humor throughout the entire talent show to help
keep the audience laughing and distracted from the many accidents that occur onstage. During the next act, when Andres’
gelatin tower collapses, Deon is covered in green ooze and instead of being upset and embarrassed, Deon tells the audience
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
that being covered in the gelatin was “exhilarating” and asks the audience to “give a round of applause to Andres and his
amazing, attacking Galaxy Goo Tower” and to “eat it at your own risk.” After Michelle slips on a puddle of gelatin left on
stage during the next act, Deon shows his sense of humor by dancing with the mop as he goes onstage to clean up the
gelatin. This distracts the audience from Michelle’s fall and allows Michelle and Tara to complete their act without any
further mishaps.
At the end of the story, Deon’s friends help him to realize his talent for humor by refusing to take their final bow
without him and telling him that the talent show would have been a total flop without his distracting the audience from all of
the mishaps with his sense of humor. The audience shows their appreciation for his sense of humor by jumping to their feet
and cheering when Deon walks onstage. When Deon realizes that he does have a talent for humor, he shows his funny side
again by suggesting that they take their show to “Broadway.” The talent show participants and the audience agree that
without Deon the talent show wouldn’t have been as good as it was. His sense of humor saved the participants from being
embarrassed and distracted the audience from becoming bored or upset when accidents occurred. Even though at the
beginning of the story Deon thought he had no talent, his reaction to what occurred during the talent show allowed his
friends, the audience members, and Deon to discover that he does indeed have a talent-- for humor.
Additional Tasks

Many students seem to have a difficult time understanding what a talent is. After discussing what a talent is, and coming up with
a few examples, have students use the Hand-up Pair up Kagan structure to Rally Robin and brainstorm a list of talents they each
possess. Then students can go back to their groups and each group can create a list of talents the group members possess.
Answer: Answers should include a list of talents possessed by group members. This can be written or verbal.
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StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
Have the students re-write the Reader’s Theater to reflect what the talent show would have been like if Deon was correct about
his lack of talent.
Answer: Answers should reflect that the talent show probably would have been disastrous without Deon’s quick thinking
and talent of humor.

“It Takes Talent” is a reader’s theatre that includes the role of a narrator. Using evidence gathered throughout the text of the
story, what is the purpose for including a narrator in the story? How does this role affect the way that the reader understands the
story? Looking at page 134, would you be able to understand how Tara and Michelle are feeling about performing during the
talent show if the narrator’s parts were taken out of story? Explain why or why not citing specific examples contained on the
page.
Answer: A narrator’s role in the story is to help the reader to picture in their own minds the events taking place in the story.
For example, on page 132, the narrator describes what is happening when Deon tries to take the curtain cord away from
Grumpy. Without this information, the reader would not understand the dialogue that is taking place between the
characters. The narrator also helps to introduce the setting of each scene in the story. Basically, the narrator helps the
reader to picture events taking place in the story that may not adequately be shown in the illustrations and without this
information the reader would not fully understand what was happening in this story. No, I would not understand how
Michelle and Tara were feeling about participating in the talent show without the narrator’s parts. The narrator’s parts show
how nervous the girls are about performing. For example, it tells us that they are “hesitating in the wings”, Michelle says
she’ll be “mortified” and Tara “grudgingly”.
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StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
Note to Teacher

The students should have been exposed to Reader’s theatre many times by the time they reach the fifth grade, but due to the
fact that this is the first Reader’s theatre story for the year, be sure that students understand the characteristics of Reader’s
theatre and how this is different from other genres of stories. For example, students should know that a Reader’s theatre play
relies on the reader’s ability to portray emotion with his/her voice and body language. Unlike a play where the readers “become”
the character including setting and costumes, Reader’s theatre relies on fluency to adequately portray the traits or characters.

Some of the students may be unfamiliar with the concept of a talent show. Be sure to discuss with them what a talent show at a
school would actually consist of and what kinds of acts might be included.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
StoryTown - 2008
Name _____________________________________________
Grade 5
Date __________________
“It Takes Talent”
1. What clues does the author give you on page 128 about Deon’s and Andres’ personalities?
2. On page 129, Mr. Hebert announces that there is a talent show coming up soon. How does
Deon feel about taking part in the talent show? Cite evidence on this page that shows how
Deon feels about taking part in the talent show. What is the main challenge he faces?
3. What statements does Deon make on page 130 that show why he does not wish to
participate in the talent show?
4. On page 130, Mr. Herbert tells Deon that he does not believe that he doesn’t have talent,
but there is a way he can participate in the talent show without performing. What does Mr.
Hebert suggest Deon do to take part in the talent show without having to perform? What
will his responsibilities be if he accepts this position?
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
5. On page 131, Mr. Herbert tells Rob to “restrain” his pig. The word “restrain” means to hold
the pig back and limit his ability to run around. What events happen on this page that
causes Mr. Herbert to tell Rob that he needs to “restrain” his pig?
6. Deon successfully handles the mishaps occurring in the story with ease. What are two
comments that Deon makes on page 132 that indicate he has a good sense of humor? Why
is it important to this story for the reader to understand that Deon has a sense of humor?
7. Foreshadowing is a technique that authors use to hint about an event that may happen
later in the story. Deon’s last line on page 132 is, “Is the bottom of your tower supposed to
ooze like that?” What event is this foreshadowing?
8. On page 133, the author gives several examples of how Deon’s sense of humor helped the
talent show participants by using humor to help keep the audience entertained when
mishaps occur. What are two examples of how Deon uses his sense of humor to distract the
audience when Andres’ gelatin tower collapses?
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
StoryTown - 2008
Grade 5
9. What actions does Deon take after Michelle slips on the gelatin and falls down on page 134
that causes Tara and Michelle to be grateful that he is the emcee for the talent show? Why
is this an important part of the story?
10. What happens on page 135 that shows how the audience and participants feel about how
Deon performed as the emcee of the talent show?
11. At the beginning of the story, we said that Deon’s main challenge was that he did not feel as
if he had any talent to perform in the talent show. How is his challenge resolved at the end
of the story?